Social Science Research Assistants pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,520 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in Des Moines earn between $33,840 and $43,220.
- $33K10th
- $34K25th
- $34KMedian
- $43K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,590 | $3,216 | $18.55 |
| Median | $33,840 | $2,820 | $16.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,840 | $2,820 | $16.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,220 | $3,602 | $20.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in Des Moines earn 4% less than the Iowa average ($40,040) and 42% less than the U.S. average ($66,140). At the median the gap is -45% against the U.S. median of $61,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $38,590 | $33,840 | $33,000 | $44,520 | 40 |
| Iowa | $40,040 | $40,940 | $22,260 | $58,470 | 140 |
| United States | $66,140 | $61,990 | $38,090 | $102,070 | 30,640 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Social Science Research Assistants salary after taxes in Des Moines
On the average salary of $38,590, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $32,332 a year, or $2,694 a month and $1,244 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Des Moines a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $38,590 buys what about $42,082 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in nearby metro areas
- Omaha, NE$51,990
- Lincoln, NE$61,350
- Kansas City, MO$59,650
- Columbia, MO$69,420
- Madison, WI$56,970
- Minneapolis, MN$47,870
Highest-paying cities for social science research assistants
Atlanta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,820).
- Atlanta, GA$90,820
- Bowling Green, KY$88,200
- San Francisco, CA$86,880
- Oklahoma City, OK$80,710
- Flagstaff, AZ$80,680
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Social Science Research Assistants salary in Des Moines: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in Des Moines?
$18.55 an hour on average, and $16.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $32,332 a year ($2,694 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,590. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do social science research assistants earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 42% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4061; area Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 17.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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